Transportation

Close-up of express lane marker on Bay Area freeway.

Congestion Pricing in the San Francisco Bay Area

Planners call them “express lanes,” but make no mistake, they are congestion pricing in action, and they're successful. The Bay Area network of what the Federal Highway Administration calls “high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes” is growing.

May 12, 2024 - San Francisco Chronicle

Low shot of red painted bus lane on New York City street with blurred bus, pedestrians, and buildings in background.

NYC’s Vision Zero Program Saved $90 Million in Medicaid Costs

While traffic fatalities remain far above zero, the city saw fewer injuries compared to areas without Vision Zero initiatives.

May 12, 2024 - The New York Times

CTA Purple Line train

Chicago Transit Recovery Trails Behind Other Major US Cities

Sluggish ridership rates and staffing shortages are dampening recovery. Looming budget gaps could make things even worse.

May 10, 2024 - WGN9

Colorful Lauderhill Transit Center at night.

Broward County Transit Security Program Provides Services to Unhoused Riders

The agency worked with local partners to provide housing referrals and health services to homeless residents who frequent the transit system.

May 10, 2024 - Mass Transit

New York Public Transit

Suburban Politics Threaten to Derail Transit Recovery

Some of the country’s largest public transit systems are scrambling to find new sources of revenue as emergency aid dollars dry up, but some stakeholders don’t see their value.

May 9, 2024 - Politico

Purple Virginia Breeze intercity bus driving down blurred road with trees on roadside.

A Business Case for Improving Interregional Bus Service

Interregional bus service is the neglected stepchild of the transportation family. We need better non-auto connections between communities.

May 9, 2024 - Todd Litman

Rendering of small autonomous 'air taxi' parked on gray stone driveway.

Cities Prepare to Regulate Air Taxis

If the technology takes off, city officials will need to step into the world of aviation rules to ensure safety and limit environmental impact.

May 9, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

A view of the rear of four cars parked in angled spaces.

Birmingham, Ala. Passes ‘Landmark’ Parking Reform

New businesses in Birmingham, Alabama will no longer have to provide a minimum number of parking spaces.

May 9, 2024 - WVTM 13

Man wearing sweater and messenger bag walking into white autonomous four-person Glydcar vehicle.

Self-Driving Microtransit System Coming to Contra Costa County

The autonomous, four-person pods would travel on an enclosed track, but is it an effective model for public transit?

May 8, 2024 - CBS News

Close up of a road map showing major roadways around Ann Arbor Michigan

Michigan Considers Mileage-Based Road Usage Fee Pilot Program

Exploring alternative road funding options is a priority for Michigan legislators to make up the state’s road funding gap.

May 8, 2024 - Bridge Michigan

Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh Regional Transit Launches First Ever Climate Action Plan

In addition to reducing emissions, the agency officials hope the climate action plan will help increase ridership and boost their competitiveness when applying for federal transit funding.

May 8, 2024 - WESA

Yellow CROSSWALK sign hanging above a street in downtown Seattle, Washington.

Seattle Mayor Raises Transportation Levy by $100 Million

The proposal sent to City Council includes more funding for multimodal transportation and road safety.

May 7, 2024 - The Urbanist

Freeay with Detroit skyline in background.

Detroit Metro Testing ‘Smart Road’ Tech

Sensors installed along a segment of Interstate 94 could help improve safety, limit speeding, and alert officials to potholes and debris.

May 7, 2024 - GovTech

Six people posing with Red Bike bike share bikes with bridge and river in background.

Cincinnati Bike Share System To Relaunch May 13

The Red Bike system suspended operations in March, but has since raised funds through a private campaign to resume service.

May 7, 2024 - WLWT

A rider on a Citibike on a bike lane in New York City

New York City Plans Street Safety Projects as Congestion Pricing Nears

With congestion pricing projected to reduce the number of cars entering Manhattan, NYCDOT plans to repurpose street space to build more pedestrian and bike infrastructure.

May 7, 2024 - Smart Cities Dive

Jaguar Self-Driving Car

Waymo Expanding Robotaxi Service to More Bay Area Cities

The company was permitted to operate in 22 Bay Area cities without restrictions in March.

May 6, 2024 - San Francisco Chronicle

Construction work on highway segment in Indiana that will charge electric vehicles.

This Highway in Indiana Will Charge EVs

The project will test a technology that wirelessly charges vehicles driving or parked on the roadway.

May 6, 2024 - The Cool Down

Historic clock on the corner of an intersection in downtown Houston at night.

Houston to Make a Car-Free Downtown Corridor Permanent

A seven-block stretch of Main Street will be permanently blocked off to traffic and enhanced to create a vibrant, pedestrian friendly zone.

May 6, 2024 - Chron

"Stop - Pedestrians in crosswalk" sign in white and red lights.

Video: Zeroing in on Nighttime Traffic Deaths

Three in four pedestrian deaths in the United States happen at night.

May 5, 2024 - Streetsblog USA

Row of silver and blue Divvy e-bikes at bike share station in Chicago, Illinois.

E-Bikes Contributing to Bike Share Growth

Shared mobility users are gravitating toward e-bikes, which make cycling easier and more accessible for a larger segment of the population.

May 5, 2024 - Route Fifty

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.